Four Leaf Clover – Part 31

Athena13

A/N: thanks for the continued support of this story! I know I threw a curve last part, but the Jess who grows up in my story and Mikey who gets a backbone after Screech…er…Marcie was killed do work. Not much of them for a while though.

>>>>>>>>

"I can't believe you took that guy's case!" John paced in front of Natalie's desk, his movements jerky, betraying his anger. Not that he was trying to hide it when he barged in.

"I think he's innocent," Natalie said calmly as she stood up and closed her office door; not that she didn't fully expect Rex to have his ear pressed to the door.

"I get that you think he's innocent, but I arrested him. I assure you he's not!" John put his hands on his hips and glared at her.

Natalie sat down at the edge of her desk and crossed her arms.

"I'm telling you to drop this case."

"I can hear you. Rex can hear you. The pool hall next door can hear you. But there is no way in hell that I'm taking orders from you, Lieutenant."

"I should throw you in a holding cell."

"For what? Disagreeing with your professional opinion? For disobeying orders you have no right to give me?" Natalie stood up and walked over to John. "B&B Investigations takes whatever cases we damn well please and the police have nothing to say about it."

"I knew I should have held up your license when I had the chance."

"You should have what?"

"I didn't…that's not…I didn't mean that," John said lamely, backing up a few steps.

"That's the thing about you, McBain. You never say things you don't mean." She looked up at him, her eyes blazing.

"It came out wrong, I never actually tried to hold up your license."

"But you considered it." Natalie poked him in the chest.

John grabbed her finger and marveled at her fury.

"We've taken this case and I'm sorry if that hurts your ego or pisses you off professionally, but I have the right to my own opinion and my own work." Natalie pulled herself out of her grip and walked back around her desk. She picked up a pile of papers and pretended she was concentrating on straightening them.

John opened his mouth to speak a few different times, the expressions on his face changing as he warred with himself for a reaction. Finally, one won out – what he deemed the safer option. Retreat.

"Fine." John turned and stormed out, glaring at Rex as he barely jumped out of the way.

"Good going, Natty. The fuzz are already shaking in their shiny shoes." Rex walked into the office and sprawled out in one of the guest chairs.

"Shut up, Rex."

"Aww, come on Natty. He's just pissed because we'll find something he missed and he'll look bad. It's a guy ego thing. Go put on a skimpy outfit tonight and make it up to him. And for God's sake don't tell me about it."

Natalie sighed and sat down. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk and looked at her brother.

"Are we doing the right thing, Rex?"

"Taking this case? Or any case that goes against your boyfriend's work? You knew it was bound to happen sooner or later."

Natalie nodded and covered her eyes.

"Are you committed to this? To me as your partner?"

"Yes," Natalie said quietly, peeking out between her fingers.

"Listen." Rex leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk and grabbing his sister's hands off her face. "McBain and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but I don't think he's the kind of man who would let his pride get in the way of your relationship. Or your career."

"I know." Natalie sighed.

"And when we prove that Wallace was set up by his ex-wife we'll be the hottest hire in town."

>>>>>>